Jelly legs, Jell-O legs, noodle legs — there are many ways to describe a weak or wobbly feeling in one or both legs due to multiple sclerosis (MS). Leg weakness is common among people with MS and can result from nerve damage, fatigue, or inactivity. It may also signal an oncoming flare.

Read on for more about MS jelly legs, potential causes, and how to manage this symptom.

Jelly Legs and Muscle Weakness in MS

People with MS experience a variety of cognitive (mental) and physical symptoms. A common motor (physical) symptom of MS is leg weakness, often called jelly legs. There are three different types of muscle weakness:

• Primary muscle weakness
• Asthenia (muscle tiredness)
• Muscle fatigability (fatigue)

It may be difficult for health care providers to distinguish between the three — especially when a person experiences all of them.

Primary Muscle Weakness

Primary muscle weakness — also known as “true” muscle weakness — leaves you unable to make your muscles do what you want, for example, when you try to move after resting. One MyMSTeam member described how muscle weakness makes it feel like they have to fight to get up. People with primary muscle weakness may struggle to begin walking after standing still. They may also have difficulty getting up the first step of a staircase.

Asthenia

People with asthenia can typically still use the affected muscle. They start walking or climbing stairs with trouble, for example. However, movement takes extra effort. In other words, the affected muscles themselves are not actually weaker, but getting them moving is more difficult.

Muscle Fatigability

Muscle fatigability is similar to muscle tiredness. As its name suggests, muscle fatigability refers to a person’s muscles becoming easily fatigued. A person may start activities or movements normally, but their muscles tire very quickly. They may also need more time than usual to recover from an activity or movement.

What Do Jelly Legs in MS Feel Like?

MyMSTeam members have many different experiences with jelly legs. One member reported that their MS made their legs feel like “cement or prisoner balls and Jell-O.”

Another member explained that, for no apparent reason, their knee “just buckles if I try to straighten or extend my left leg to a point where my knee is fully extended.”

MyMSTeam members often describe jelly legs as an occasional symptom. “My right leg feels like Jell-O. It lasts for 15 to 20 seconds, several times a day,” said one member.

Several factors may cause a person with MS to experience episodes of jelly legs. According to an article in the medical journal BMC Neurology, people diagnosed with MS who are also sensitive to heat experience worse symptoms — including leg weakness — in warm temperatures or if their body overheats from physical activity.

MyMSTeam member shared, “If it is hot outside and I try to do a lot, my legs will give out or become like Jell-O.”

Another said, “Midwest humid summer days promote heavy MS legs for me.”

Some members experience jelly legs after exercise or when they’re especially fatigued: “I mowed my front yard today, and I got jelly legs again,” one member wrote.

Another shared, “If I push myself, I get pins and needles in my arms, and my legs go to jelly.”

Other MyMSTeam members notice leg weakness getting worse with emotional stress. If you experience jelly legs or leg muscle weakness with MS, talk to your health care team. They can determine what is contributing to the symptom and work with you to find ways of managing it.

What Causes Jelly Legs in MS?

According to the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, several factors can contribute to muscle weakness in people with MS:

• Nerve damage
• Fatigue and inactivity
• Flare-ups
• Medication side effects

Nerve Damage

MS is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when the immune system attacks the central nervous system by mistake, including nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These attacks damage the myelin coating of the nerves (a process called demyelination) and the nerves themselves. These attacks cause damage to nerves, known as lesions, which cause nerve messages to slow down or stop completely.

Damage to the nerves controlling the legs may result in weakness or spasticity (muscle spasms). Damaged nerve cells and nerve fibers are also responsible for many other symptoms of MS, such as:

• Optic neuritis (vision problems) including double vision or blurred vision
• Urinary or bladder problems, such as incontinence
• Bowel problems, like constipation

Fatigue and Inactivity

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS, affecting about 80 percent of people living with the condition. Fatigue can indirectly result in jelly legs. Being fatigued may leave a person without enough energy to exercise or be active. Muscles that aren’t used regularly can become weakened or deconditioned, which may cause them to atrophy (shrink).

Flare-Ups

Jelly legs can be a sign of an MS relapse or indicate that your body needs a break. “I know that when my vision starts to alter, my legs go all Jell-O-like, and I have word-finding problems, it’s time to slow down and take a rest for a few hours, possibly days,” wrote one member.

Medication Side Effects

Some medications used to treat MS may cause muscle weakness that affects the legs. Cladribine (Mavenclad) is a drug used in the treatment of MS that has a risk of muscle weakness. Drugs such as gabapentin, baclofen, and clonazepam, used to treat symptoms of muscle spasticity in MS can also cause weakness that may affect the legs.

Always discuss potential medication side effects in detail with your doctor. If you’re unhappy with side effects, such as muscle weakness, you can talk to your doctor about switching medications.

Other Causes of Jelly Legs

You may have another condition, along with MS, that is causing leg weakness. Some other health conditions can cause weakness that may feel like jelly legs, including:

• Peripheral artery disease — Blocked arteries reduce blood circulation in the legs.
• Sciatica — A pinched nerve in the lower back causes shooting pain down the leg and is often caused by a herniated (slipped) disc in the spine or an overgrowth of bone.
• Peripheral neuropathy — This type of nerve damage can cause leg weakness.

Your doctor may want to test you for other health issues to determine the cause of your leg weakness.

Managing Jelly Legs With MS

Leg weakness can cause problems with walking and balance, potentially leading to falls. Finding ways to handle this weakness is important for preventing broken bones or other injuries from falling.

There are several ways to manage jelly legs with MS, and in many cases, it begins with treating your underlying MS. If you have concerns that your treatment plan isn’t working, talk to your doctor about your treatment options to be sure that your condition is being managed as well as possible. Always seek medical advice before making any changes in your treatment plan.

Physical therapy, exercise, rest, and other approaches may also help.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help people with MS manage leg weakness by improving strength and balance. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society suggests working with a physical therapist and focusing on weight-training exercises that are appropriate for you, with gradual progression as your muscle weakness improves.

Many MyMSTeam members have shared their experiences with physical therapy to help improve their jelly legs. One member claimed that physical therapy “helped them out greatly,” while another shared, "You will see the results!"

Exercise

MyMSTeam members have found that staying as physically active as possible while following their doctors’ medical advice helps them feel better. One member shared that they were prescribed exercise by their neurologist. “I told my neurologist that my legs were getting weaker. He just said to keep on walking. I use a rollator, which is a walker with wheels and brakes. Actually, the more I walk with it, the stronger I get. Just keep moving.”

Another member wrote that they engaged in “10 minutes of exercise on a trampoline and balance board, as well as some other exercises.”

One MyMSTeam member recommended exercise for muscle weakness — even when progress might not be obvious: “Exercise, like yoga, walking, and even squats will help maintain muscle, even though it doesn’t feel like there is improvement.”

If you need help developing an exercise routine that you feel comfortable with, be sure to ask your doctor for advice.

Rest

In some cases, resting and pacing your physical activity are the best options. One MyMSTeam member wrote. “I have to just sit, rest, and wait it out.”

“I have learned to pace myself,” another member added. “I walk a little way, stop a few minutes, then walk again.”

Assistive Devices

You may need an assistive device, like a wheelchair or cane to help support you when your legs are weak.

Disability Tags

MyMSTeam members also recommend using a disability tag for your car. With a disability tag, you can park close to destinations and cut down on walking if your legs are prone to weakness.

Find Your Team

MyMSTeam is the social network for people with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 213,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with MS.

Have you experienced legs that feel like jelly, noodles, or cement? Do you have some tips for managing and reducing muscle weakness? Leave a comment below or share your thoughts on your Activities feed.